Construction of foldable picnic table



Aug. 26, 1958 R. M. BELLER ETAL 2,849,053 CONSTRUCTION OF FOLDABLEPICNIC TABLE Filed Sept. 23, 1957 2 Sheets-Sheet l Aug. 26, 1958 R. M.BELLER ET AL 2,849,053 CONSTRUCTION OF FOLDABLE PICNIC TABLE Filed Sept.23, 1957 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 21 iiiug 19 United States Patent signors toBelson Manufacturing Company, North Aurora, 11l., a partnershipApplication September 23, 1957, Serial No. 685,613 1' Claim. (Cl.155'--124) This invention relates to construction of picnic tables ofthe well known walk-in" type which is desirably foldable to occupy aminimum of space for storage and which may be readily unfolded and setup for use with ease and rapidity.

An important object of the invention is the provision of pedestalportions for the end frame of the table that are convergedintermediately and fastened together thereat to jointly form a leg andseat support, the upper end of the pedestal portions being outwardlyflared to support the table top.

A further object of the invention is the provision of novel means forsecuring the intermediate portions of the pedestal together and also forarticulating therewith a brace rod for the table.

In an important aspect, the flared upper portions of the end framessupport an attachment bar for the table top extending thereacross and towhich they are hinged.

These and other objects and advantages will be apparent from thefollowing description, taken together with the accompanying drawings,showing an illustrative embodiment of the invention, and in whichdrawings- Figure 1 is a perspective view of a picnic table of the typereferred to embodying the present invention;

Figure 2 is a dismounted and folded view of the table;

Figure 3 is a fragmentary upside down view thereof;

Figure 4 is a longitudinal sectional view taken on the line 44 of Fig.5;

Figure S'is a cross-section taken on the line 5-5 of Fig. 4;

Figure 6 is an enlarged fragmentary view partially in section, showingthe connection means for the pedestal members; and

Figure 7 is a fragmentary view taken on the line 7-7 of Fig. 5; somewhatenlarged.

Referring in detail to the illustrative constructions shown in thedrawings, the picnic table 11 includes the two end frames 12 each ofwhich comprises a pair of pedestal members 13 that are desirably formedof tubular stock, of, say, one and one-half inches diameter. Thepedestal members 13 have intermediate portions 14 that converge towardseach other and in the region of which the members are secured togetheras presently described. For each pedestal member, a ground contacting orleg portion 16 of the runner type terminates in a turned-up return-bendportion 17. At their upper ends, the members 13 are flared apart as at18, and, at their flared tops, are hinged to attachment bar 19 as at 20.The attachment bars 19 for the end frames 12 support the table top 21,in this instance formed of three individual planks 22, while the turnedup return bend portions 17 support the seat planks 23 respectively.Brace rods 24 extend from lower regions of the end frames 12 to thetable top 21 diagonally thereto.

Turning now to a feature of the invention embodied in the securement ofthe pedestal members 13 together adjacent their intermediate portion 14,as best seen in Fig. 6 the tubular members are perforated on their ad-2,849,053 Patented Aug. 26, 1958 jacent opposed faces as at 25 for abolster sleeve 26. Aligned with the bore of the bolster sleeve, in theouter side of each member, is a reduced perforation 27 permittingpassage through the bolster sleeve 26 and through the members themselvesof a cross-pin 28 of reduced diameter with respect to the sleeve. Inthis instance, the pin 28 is threaded at both ends where it projectsfrom the pedestal member as at 29, to have screwed thereon the cap nuts30, which when screwed up securely fastens the pedestal members togetherto make up an end frame. There are preferably two sets of thesefastening members for each end frame spaced vertically apart as at 31(Figs. 5 and 6).

A feature of this construction is that the bolster sleeves 26 areinserted into the apertures 25 before the pedestal members 13 arebrought together, and, once inserted, they cannot be removed withoutseparating the pedestal members. At the same time, the bolster sleevestake the strain from the cross-pins 28 and prevent distortion ortwisting of the pedestal members relatively to each other.

Further in accordance with the present invention and similarly to theassembly of the bolster sleeve 26, the pintle 32 for the brace 24 isinserted through apertures 33 in the opposing faces of the pedestalmembers and before the latter are brought together, the opposite outerfaces of the tubular members being imperforate so as to hold the pintlein position once it is inserted. Pintle 32 passes loosely through thelower end of the brace 24 which is shown flattened thereat for thispurpose (29a). At its opposite end the brace rod 24 is angledhorizontally as at 34 to slip into hole 35 in angle clip 36 that isscrewed to the underface of the table top 21. Angled end 34 may beremovably held in place by the usual cotter 34a.

The flaring apart of the upper portions of the opposed pedestal members,as at 18-18, advantageously takes a somewhat U-form for enhancedstrength and stability.

Still following the invention, the upper end of each tubular pedestalmember 13 is pierced as at 37, to have passed therethrough a hinge bolt38 that also passes through the opposed spaced apart hinge leaves 39that are struck out as at 30 from the attachment bar 19 (Fig. 7). Thehinge bolts 38 have nuts 33a screwed thereon.

Attachment of the bars 1? to the table top 21 is advantageouslyaccomplished when the table is in the upsidedown position shown in Fig.2, holes being drilled in the table top using pre-formed holes of theattachment bar as a guide. Thereafter carriage bolts 41 may be passedthrough the wood of the table top and through the attachment bar. Thelatter is desirably angularly flanged as at 42 to impart strength andrigidity thereto.

Seat planks 23 are attached to the upturned return bend portion 17 ofeach pedestal leg by the usual bolts 43.

So constructed and arranged, by releasing the brace rod 24 in the bracerod bracket anchors 36 the end frames may be folded down onto the tabletop as shown in Fig. 2, the seat planks 23 having been previouslyremoved. These may then be placed upon the folded assembly to compactthe latter for storage, the brace rods 24 lying along the center line ofthe table.

When set up as shown in Figures 1, 4 and 5, and as best seen in Figs. 1and 5 the table is of the so-called walk-in type by which is meant thata person using the table does not have to step over a seat plank tooccupy a seat at the table, since each pedestal leg has an opening 44 ateach end by which ingress may be had to the seat.

It is to be understood that the term picnic table is intended to includeother tables of this type used for recreational or social purposes.

Such changes may be made as fall within the scope 3 of the appendedclaim without departing from the invention.

What is here claimed is:

In a foldable picnic table comprising an end frame having a pair oftubular pedestal members each bent to provide an intermediate portionand a table supporting portion, a ground contacting portion, and areturn bend seat supporting portion, that improvement wherein thepedestal members are fastened together at their intermediate portions,the upper ends of the pedestal members being flared outwardly therefromto somewhat U- shape, an attachment bar extending across the said upperends, hinge means connecting each upper end to said attachment har, saidintermediate portions having vertically spaced connecting means eachincluding a bolster sleeve, the intermediate portions having confrontingopenings respectively receiving the bolster sleeve, perforations in theintermediate portions opposite said bolster sleeve on their outer facesrespectively, reduced with respect to the bolster sleeve, a cross pinpassing through said openings, perforations and bolster sleeve, and capnuts on each end of the cross pin, confronting holes in the pedestalmembers in a region between their intermediate portions and their groundcontact portions, said members being spaced apart thereat, a pintle insaid holes having its ends extending into said members and of a lengthapproaching the outer walls of the members, and a brace rod articulatedwith the pintle, the members being unapertured on their outer wallsopposite said pintle whereby said pintle is held in position againstaccidental removal until said interengaging means are disengaged.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS D.165,777 Offutt et a1 Jan. 29, 1952 1,888,117 Fox Nov. 15, 1932 2,467,080Duer Apr. 12, 1949 2,472,962 Shuflin June 14, 1949 20 2,664,141Musselman Dec. 29, 1953 2,748,837 Beller June 5, 1956

